The directors of HSBC meet tomorrow in Shanghai to lick their wounds and, one assumes, pledge to get on better in future. They should start by asking the non-executive director John Thornton whether he wants to be part of the newly happy, harmonious crew.

Thornton, the former Goldman Sachs high-flyer, was another disappointed candidate for the chairman's job that fell, eventually, to the finance director Douglas Flint. Indeed, he was bookies' favourite. If, as reported, Thornton is now considering leaving in the spring, he should be asked to hurry up and decide because the past fortnight's farce requires all sub-plots to be resolved.

The perception in the outside world is that Thornton's commitment to HSBC extended only to waiting to see if he could land the prize of the chairmanship. If that's wrong, then, fine, there's no problem. But it's time to clear the air.